French defense minister stresses unity, determination to continue support for Ukraine

By Ilayda Cakirtekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin stressed the significance of unity and determination to continue their support for Ukraine following a Group of Five (E5) Defense Ministers’ meeting on Monday.

"I would like to highlight both our unity and our determination to continue supporting Ukraine. This support will not cease," Vautrin said.

She also reaffirmed their determination to tackle Europe's security challenges during a joint news briefing with her German, Italian, Polish, and British counterparts, as well as EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.

"It is extremely important for us not to allow ourselves to be intimidated and never to become divided. This is the context in which we can discuss our objective, as endorsed at the NATO summit in Ankara in July: a stronger Europe within a stronger NATO," Vautrin also noted.

She stressed that they aim to work together "in practical terms" to achieve their objective, "with a methodology and a timetable, all in full transparency with the United States, as part of the burden-shifting it is calling for."

Vautrin further outlined their shared objectives regarding defense by producing more and faster while manufacturing equipment suited to current conflicts.

"We must also anticipate tomorrow's conflicts through greater cooperation and interoperability, in the service of our interests and our security," she added.

İlayda Çakırtekin